Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana remains the best country for investment as it boasts of a conducive environment and is a partner in the global market, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.
Speaking at the opening of the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa in Gaborone on Monday, President Masisi said while Africa had the greatest potential for growth, Botswana was an ideal destination as it offered a conducive environment for creativity.
“Test us and see what we offer,” he said when responding to questions by Mr Randall Lane, Forbes Chief Content Officer,
President Masisi said Botswana was also a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), the African Union (AU) and was also the continent’s longest-running democracy with a stable and healthy fiscal space.
“We have friends and no known enemies,” he said.
The President further said the country emerged strong from the COVID-19 pandemic leveraging on its past experience from the era of the HIV/AIDS impact.
He said the impact was debilitating but the government responded aggressively.
Dr Masisi said the country was able to propel itself and in the process discovered the Omicron variant.
Further, the country made a scientific discovery on the blood type that was resistant to the virus.Regarding Botswana’s small population, President Masisi said the country had to look into where it had comparative advantages.
The country is vast with a population of 2.5 million and the President said Botswana had, therefore, made friends with countries that offered huge markets.
He said Botswana provided security, financial backing and good governance.
On the De Beers and Botswana deal, he said, ‘diamonds are Botswana and Botswana are diamonds, thereby signifying the importance of the sector in the economy’.
He said Botswana had been able to use diamond revenue for infrastructure and social development, adding it was important for the country to use diamonds for development.
“Diamonds are not sufficient, it is what you do with them that makes a good life,” he said.
He said De Beers remained an important partner for Botswana. “We love De Beers and De Beers loves us,” he said.
He, however, said the De Beers-Botswana partnership was negotiable and the country had to have a better deal.
“We both know what we want,” he said. He added that in the end, Botswana would be able to reset its economy and transform the lives of Batswana. Meanwhile, the President has announced that the 2023/24 national budget would be dedicated to young people, and therefore Forbes should consider returning to the country again.
The Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa officially ends today.
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